HJAR May/Jun 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2025 33 Jennifer Dillaha, MD Director Arkansas Department of Health who get measles is hospitalized. Measles can cause serious health complications, including: • Pneumonia, the leading cause of mea- sles-related death in young children, which affects one in 20 children. • Encephalitis (brain swelling), which af- fects one in 1,000 children, potentially causing seizures, deafness, or intellec- tual disabilities. • Blindness and hearing loss. • Immune system suppression, leav- ing people vulnerable to secondary infections. • Pregnancy complications, including infertility, premature birth, and low birth weight. • Death due to respiratory and neuro- logic complications in nearly one to three of every 1,000 children. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% effective with one dose and 97% effective with two doses. Healthcare professionals should discuss vaccination with those who are unvaccinat- ed or whose status is uncertain. The MMR vaccine is safe, well-studied, and essential for preventing outbreaks. Measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, meaning it was no longer spreading within the country. Howev- er, cases have resurged due to declining vac- cination rates. In 2024, the United States re- ported 285 cases, with 120 affecting children providers should: • Isolate the patient using airborne precautions. • Call the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Outbreak Response at (501) 661-2381. • Collect specimens for testing at the Glen F. Baker Public Health Laboratory. • This should be done after talking to ADH Outbreak Response staff, who will provide a Miscellaneous Examination Form (HL-O6) for specimen submission. • Guidelines to collect and submit specimens can be found at https://healthy.arkansas.gov/ wp-content/uploads/Measles- Specimen-Collection-Form.pdf. For more guidance, see theADH’s clinical document, “Should I test for measles? A Guide for Providers”, at https://healthy. arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/ MeaslesHCProviderDecTree_2.27.25.pdf. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications, but it is preventable through vaccination. Healthcare profession- als play a crucial role in identifying cases, testing appropriately, and promoting immu- nizations. By reinforcing the importance of the MMR vaccine, we can protect vulnerable populations and prevent the resurgence of this serious disease. For more information, visit healthy. arkansas.gov or cdc.gov. n under five. Of the total cases, 114 required hospitalization, and 89%were either unvac- cinated or had unknown vaccination status. As of late March, 483 cases have been re- ported in 2025, leading to 70 hospitalizations and one confirmed death. A second death is under investigation. A staggering 97% of cases involved unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination history. InArkansas, measles remains rare. Since 2009, the state has reported only five cases. Three of these cases had philosophical ex- emptions, while two had unknown vaccine history with international travel. Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients who: • Do not have presumptive immunity to measles. • Have fever and rash (starting on the face and spreading downward), plus one of the following: • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). • Cough. • Runny nose. Healthcare providers should also check if the patient had a possible measles exposure in the past 21 days, including: • Known contact with someone who has measles. • Recent international travel or contact with international travelers. • Travel to a U.S. state with a measles outbreak or contact with travelers from an outbreak area. If measles is suspected, healthcare